Ryanair defies watchdog ban over 'sexy schoolgirl' advert (and faces writ from Sarkozy)

The "irresponsible" image appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled.

The airline has refused to comply with the ASA's ruling, calling it "censorship".

And in another blow for the Ryanair, French president Nicolas Sarkozy and fiancee Carla Bruni are suing the budget airline for using their photo in a different advertising campaign.

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The schoolgirl advertisment, printed in three newspapers under the heading "Hottest", showed a model dressed in a short tartan skirt, matching tie, white shirt and knee-high white socks posing in a classroom.

Text under the image advertised various "back to school fares" from £10 one way.

The Ryanair advert prompted 13 complaints from readers who found it offensive.

After an investigation, the ASA said the model's clothing strongly suggested she was a schoolgirl.

"We considered that her appearance and pose, in conjunction with the heading "Hottest", appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour and was irresponsible and likely to cause serious or widespread offence," the watchdog ruled.

It found that the advert breached the advertising code's rules on social responsibility and decency.

The ASA told Ryanair to withdraw the advert and ensure its future adverts complied with the advertising code.

Responding to the investigation, the budget airline said its advert was considerably less suggestive than some other adverts or promotions in the UK media.

Ryanair head of communications Peter Sherrard said the airline was refusing to withdraw the advert in light of the ASA ruling.

He said: "It is remarkable that a picture of a fully clothed model is now claimed to cause "serious or widespread offence", when many of the UK's leading daily newspapers regularly run pictures of topless or partially dressed females without causing any serious or widespread offence.

"This isn't advertising regulation, it is simply censorship. This bunch of unelected self-appointed dimwits are clearly incapable of fairly and impartially ruling on advertising."

Mr Sherrard said Ryanair believed there was nothing irresponsible nor offensive in its advert.

"Consequently we will not be withdrawing this ad and we will not provide the ASA with any of the undertakings they seek," he added.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Sarkozy and fiancee Carla Bruni have been angered by another campaign in France.

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It showed the President and Bruni smiling together with a caption next to the stunning Italian model saying: "With Ryanair, my whole family can come to my wedding."

Sarkozy's lawyer Thierry Herzog said the photo was used without the couple's consent and a Paris court would hear the complaint today.

The president was seeking a symbolic one euro in damages while Miss Bruni was demanding 500,000 euros - £360,000 - from Ryanair for violation of their right to privacy.

Elysee Palace spokesman David Martinon said: "We are looking at all possible legal avenues because this is unacceptable."

A presidential insider also told French daily Le Figaro: "The boss is really, really unhappy about this."

Sarkozy, who turned 53 yesterday, told a news conference this month that his relationship with Bruni was "serious" and suggested they planned to marry.

The president and the 40-year-old model's relationship triggered a blizzard of media interest after they met at a party in Paris last November - just one month after he divorced wife of 11 years Cecilia.

Last month, Ryanair reached an out-of-court settlement with Sweden's former prime minister Georan Persson for using his picture in an ad campaign without his consent.